Magnetic nail-holding hammer



y 7, 1952 Y. H. KURKJIAN 2,597,876

MAGNETIC NAIL-HOLDING HAMMER Filed Nov. 17. 1949 I N VEN TOR. Vie MM KUEK/M/V Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,597,876 MAGNETIC NAIL-HQLDIN G HAIWIWER Yervant H. Kurkjian, Clifton, N. J.

Application November 17, 1949, Serial No; 127,886

3 Claims. (oi, 145-30) This invention relates to hammers, and more particularly to a means for facilitating the drivingof nails, tacks, and thelike.

One of the important objects of the invention is the production of a simple and efficient magnetic means for holding a nail or tack upon the .shank and head of a hammer, in a manner to facilitate the driving of a nail or tack in a place where it may be impossible or inconvenient to hold the nail or tack with the hand.

A further object ofthe present invention is the production of a hammer having a permanent I magnet embedded in the shank thereof for holding a nail or tack thereon by magnetic attraction, the magnet being mounted within a nonconducting casing to localize and insulate the magnetism so as to prevent the magnetism from spreading over the entire shank or head of the hammer.

" Other objects'and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner of supporting a nail upon a hammer head, a portion of the shank being shown in see- I tion;

hammer head In is provided with a conventional "shank or poll I2, which is provided with a longitudinally extending nail receiving channel I3. The channel I3 extends longitudinally of the shank I2, preferably for the entire length of the shank I2, as shown. The channel I3 is also preferably formed in the top or outer face of the shank I2. The channel I3 is provided with a head receiving groove or channel I4 at its inner end which extends transversely of the channel I3 and is provided with a rear wall I5. This rear wall I5 preferably is inclined rearwardly and downwardly or inwardly so as to place the pressure of the hammer head against the top of the nail head at the point I3 while driving the nail in position in a wall or other nail receiving structure. This arrangement will tend to hold the nail N within the channel I3 while the nail is 2 being initially driven. The channel I3 is preferably'concave in cross section, as shown in detail in Figure 3.

A permanent magnet element I! of the conventional type which is readily obtainableupon the market, is placed. transversely through the shank I2 and is fitted within a magnetic insulatin socket member I8. The magnetv element I1 is preferably circular in cross section and may be of any desired length to suit the type of hammer used and the type of nail or tack which it isintended to hold. The socket member I8 preferably is formed of brass or other non-magnet conducting or poorly conducting material so as to shield the magnetism of the element or-core from spreading over the entire shank I2 or hammer head Ill. The upper end of the element or core I! conforms to the contour of the'transverse area of the channel I3 and extends flush with the wall of the channel I3, inthe manner as shown in Figure 3. The socket member I8 extends outwardly at its side edges to points upon either side of the channel I3 and are flush with the exterior of the shank. The outer end of the socket member I8 however, also conforms to the transverse contour of the channel I3 to 7 permit the nail N to lie fiat within the full length member I8 is closed to shield the bottom The bottom of the socket end of of the channel I3.

the channel I3 with an additional transverse groove I9 near its outer end to receive the head of a tack or short nail, the transverse groovev I I being adapted to receive the head of a larger nail in the same manner as described with respect to Figures 1 and 2. A permanent magnet 20 properly insulated in the manner similar to magnet I1 is carried by the shank I2 and is located in the channel I3 intermediate the grooves I9 and I l A second permanent magnet 2| similar to the magnet I1, and properly insulated, is carried by the shank Ii. intermediate the groove l9 and the outer end of the shank I2 to retain a tack in the outer end of the channel I3 when it is so desired.

It should be noted that the magnet H, such as is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, has only its outer concave end exposed, and that this concave end is fitted within the channel I3 in a manner to extend flush therewith. The shielding socket member I8 completely covers the magnet I'l so as to shield and to prevent the magnetism Iron:

3 spreading over the entire hammer head l0. Due to this fact, the hammer may be placed in a tool box or may be laid aside without fear of picking up adjoining nails or other metal articles or particles which would necessitate their removal before the hammer is used. The magnetism in the present device will only attract a nail or the like which is placed within the channel wiarid will efiiciently hold the-nail in the channelwithout assistance by the operator while initially hammering the nail into a piece of work. When the nail or tack is driven into a piece of work, the hammer is released from the nail and may be used in the conventional manner 'to'drive the nail home. The end wall l5 bycontacting the head of the nail N will. facilitate the initial driving of the nail and themagnetl'lhas sufficient strength to hold the nail against -accidental removal from the hammer until the nail is initially driveninto'the work. Itshould be -:noted thatrthe' term' 'n'ail is used'in the following claims in" its broadest sense, meaning nail, ftack-- or other securing element and'thei claims should be; so" interpreted.

"Itshould be .noted that one important, feature ofthd present invention is the magnetism localizing..- element or permanent magnet element '11 {whereinfthe magnetism is localized and 'doesnot .spread overIotherportions ofthe hammer head forfshank. one or more elements llmaylbe'carriedmithin a'shield'c'asing' or socket member'IB -..asl,.set forthfin the foregoing "description; .but

i l such-a s'ocket'member is 'not necessary where a .vproperitype of magnet, suchjas mayjnowb'e obtained-is utilized Ywhereinlthe'magnetic "flux is 9 -,1oca1ized. therein and ,doesnot'spread beyond the .element itself except at the point of approximate icontact. Because'of this structure, a nail may b'e' placed in 7 the groove and held therein against -=accidental 5 removal --until the nail is initially Tdriven. into-arr object.- The combination of'the lin'clined wall l8 and the magnetismlocalizing .eleme'nt' provides a very 'simple and efficient nail "holding means. "At the'same time, the hammer had" will.not pickvuplother nails and. metal "objects' which may be adjacent "thereto, or contact .Having describclth invention, .whatis .claimed as new is l1. IAnarticleof manufacture comprising a hammer. head having a conventional shank}- said shank .lhavinga longitudinally extending nail, receiving channeI aYnaiI headiabut'ment wallat one end o'ffsaid channel a magnetism localizing..element iitted in said shank andfhaving vone end"thereof co'm'municating with said channeli'intermediate the ends of said channel for releasably retaining a nail in said channel, and said magnetism localizing element retaining the magnetic flux localized in close proximity to the element in a manner whereby metal objects such as nails, screws, and the like, will not be picked up by the hammer upon contact and whereby a nail may only be releasably held by the hammer when the nail is placed within the channel.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a hammer head having a conventional shank, said shank having a longitudinally extending nail receiving .channeL. a nail head abutment wall at one end of said channel; a magnetism localizing element fittedinsaidshank and having one end thereof Within and flush with the wall of said channel 'intermediatethe-ends of said channel for releasably retaining a nail in said channel, and said magnetism localizing element retaining the magnetic flux localized in close proximity to theelement in ,a. manner" whereby metalobjects such as may ,only'bfe releasably held by the hammer when thenail is placed within thechannel.

' 3. An articleof manufacture comprising a'hammer head having a conventional shank; s'aid'shank having a" longitudinally extending 'nail "receiving channel; a nailhead abutment wall at one'i'end of said channel, a magnetism"localizingelement Tfi'l'lteid in said, shank and having'one end thereof within 'and'flush withthe Wall 'ofisaiwchannel intermediate the ,endsof saidchannel for re- ,leasably retaining anaili in said channel, -s'aid magnetism localizing element retaining the magnetic fluxfloca'lized'in close proximity'to'the'elementin amanner whereby'metal objects such as nails, screws,'and the like, will notbe p'icked up by the hammer upon contact and whereby a nail may only be releasably held by the'hammer when the nailis placed within'the channeL'and said abutment wall being'inwa'rdlyand'rearwardly inclined to contact the'hea'dfof' a'naii in outward'spaced'relation' to the channel in a manner to contactthe'headbf a" nail'beyond" the channel and to hold't'he'n'ail' in' the channel when thenail first makes contact with the material "into whichit is'jdriven.

YERVANT H. KURKJIAN.

vfile. of T this; patent:

=-tUNIS1 EDISFIAFEESEBAZIE M S *--'Number Name *Date 418,539 7 St'ark l Dec%' 3l; 1889 ?1-,477;833 Leak -Dec'.' 1851923 

